Lock cylinder plug holder



Feb. 1, 1966 J. A. ROLLINS 3,232,083

LOCK CYLINDER PLUG HOLDER Filed Dec. 9, 1963 l [0 IO |7.

INVENTOR= JOSEPH A. ROLLINS WWW/ nited States Patent LOCK CYLINDER PLUG HOLDER Joseph Ashby Rollins, 1316 Althea, Houston, Tex. Filed Dec. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 329,184 6 Claims. (Cl. 70-372) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in locksmiths tools, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, convenient holder which may be used in the process of assembling tumblers or pins in a lock cylinder for cooperation with a key therein.

In conventional practical it is customary to insert pins of the same length into a lock cylinder so that they contact a key of a given profile, this causing the pins to protrude from the cylinder to varying heights, whereupon the pins are filed off flush with the surface of the cylinder prior to installation of the latter in the lock body. More recent developments in the art have eliminated the need for filing off the pins by providing in a kit form a lock cylinder with pins already cut to appropriate lengths to suit a key of a given profile. However, in instances where the lock is to be operated by a standard key as well as by one or two master keys, each bore of the lock cylinder may be required to accommodate two or more pins placed end to end, so as to break selectively at the surface of the cylinder when the latter is turned in the lock by any one of the different keys. Such multiple pins are very often short in length, and considerable diflicu-lty is octten experienced in retaining them in the cylinder bores during assembly and prior to installation of the cylinder in the lock. The present invention eliminates this difficulty by the provision of a simple, convenient holder for the lock cylinder and for the pins, so that the pins are readily accessible and may be easily picked up for installation in the lock cylinder bores.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of the holder in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof, partly in vertical section;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, tragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of the holder with the lock cylinder in position; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 6-6 in FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the holder of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and is intended for use in the process of assembling tumblers or pins in a lock cylinder 11 operated by a key 12. In accordance with conventional practice, the cylinder 11 is provided with a row of radial bores 13, in which the tumblers or pins, indicated generally by the reference character P are positioned. In the instance of locks operated by a standard key as well as by one or two master keys, the pins P usually com prise two or more individual pin elements in each of the bores 13, as for example, the innermost or base pin element 14 and one or more master pin elements 15, all placed end to end in the same bore. The holder 10 of the invention provides convenient means for supporting the lock cylinder and the various pin elements in an orderly, easily accessible manner for expeditious assembly.

The holder 10 assumes the form of a block-shaped body 16 which preferably has a base portion 16' of a reduced width so that it may be conveniently clamped in a vise, or the like. The upper portion of the body 16 is provided with an open-ended, horizontally extending, substantially cylindrical bore or chamber 17 which is adapted to receive therein the lock cylinder 11. One end portion of the chamber 17 may be formed with a counterbore 17' to accommodate the usual lip or flange 11 at the outer end of the lock cylinder, as will be clearly apparent.

The top of the body 16 is formed with an open slot 18 which extends longitudinally of and communicates with the top of the chamber 17, so that the bores 13 of the lock cylinder 11 are exposed through the slot for insertion of the pin elements into the bores.

The upper portion of the body 16 is formed so as to provide a pair of raised ribs or guard rails 19 along the opposite side edges of the slot 18, and a pair of shoulders 20 at the outside of the guard rails, it being noted that the shoulders 20 are spaced downwardly from the top surfiaces of the guard rails.

Formed in each of the shoulders 20 is a row of pin receiving sockets 21, each socket consisting, as is best shown in FIGURE 4, of a blind drilling or aperture 22 which opens into a concave recess 23, the center of the recess being offset laterally from the center of the aperture so that when a pin P is inserted in the aperture 22, the recess 23 affords sufficient clearance for the pin to be picked up, as by tweezers, or the like.

When the device is place in use, the body 16 is clamped in a vise by its base portion 16' and a lock cylinder 11 is inserted in the chamber 17 of the body. The various pin elements P which come with the cylinder in kit form to suit a particular key are then placed in the drillings 22 of the sockets 21 in a selected order whereby the pin elements in the first socket on each side of the holder are intended to be placed in the first cylinder bore, those in the second socket on each side in the second cylinder bore, et cetera. In this manner, the pin ele- Lments are orderly arranged and readily available for insertion in the respective bores of the lock cylinder, in coordination with the profile of the key 12 which the lock is intended to receive.

In FIGURE 5 some of the cylinder bores 13 have been shown as containing only a single pin, which may be the situation in some instances of locks operated by a standard key. However, in locks employing a standard key and one or more master keys, there may be provided the base pin element 14 and one or more of the master pin elements 15. In such event, the base pin elements 14 are usually held in place in the cylinder so that the problem of installing them is not involved. However, the master pins 15 have to be installed in the assembly, and such pins may be accommodated in the sockets 21 of the holder in appropriate orientation to the cylinder bores.

As already stated, the ribs or rails 19 rise above the shoulders 20 and their upper surfaces are disposed so that they are flush with the top of the lock cylinder 11 in the chamber 17. Thus, if any attempt should be made to file the pins after installation thereof in the bores of the cylinder, the guard rails 19 will effectively protect the cylinder from damager by the filing operation.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications and equivalents may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure, and various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. An assembly holder for lock cylinders of the type having a key and a row. of. bores containing pins actuated by the-key, said holder comprising a block-shaped body provided with a substantially cylindrical chamber adapted to receive a lock cylinder therein, said body also being formed with a, slot extending longitudinally of and cornrnunicating with said chamber whereby the bores of a cylinder in the chamber may be exposed for reception of pins in the bores, and a row of pin receiving sockets provided in said. body at one side of and parallel. with said slot.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a pair e f-guard rails provided onsaid-bfldy at opposite side edges of said slot.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said sockets includesa pinreceiving aperture and a recess surrounding the same.

4. An assembly holder for lock cylinders of the type having a key and a row of bores containing pins actuated by the key, said holder comprising a block-shaped body having an upper pontion \provided with a horizontally disposed substantially cylindrical open-ended chamber adapted to receive a look cylinder therein, the top of said body being formed with a slotextending longitudinaily of andcomrnunieating with the top of'said chamber whereby the bores of a cylinder in the chamber may be exposed through said slot for reception of pins in the bores, regions of said body at opposite side edges of said slot being upraised and defining a pair of guard rails, said guard rails having upper surfaces adapted to lie flush with the top of a cylinder in said chamber, regions of said body at the outside of said guard nails forming a pair of shoulders spaced downwardly from the upper surfaces of the guard rails, each of said shoulders being provided with a row of pin receiving sockets panallel to said slot.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said sockets includes apin receiving aperture and a recess surrounding the same.

6. The device as definedlin claim 4 wherein said, body is formed atone end: of said'cham berwith a counterbore for reception of a flanged end of a lock cylinder.

OTHER REFERENCES Whitcomb, 0, Practical Course in Modern Locksmithing, Nelson-Hall, 1943, T5520; C78 (pp. 83-85 relied-on).

ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary, Examiner. 

1. AN ASSEMBLY HOLDER FOR LOCK CYLINDERS OF THE TYPE HAVING A KEY AND A ROW OF BORES CONTAINING PINS ACTUATED BY THE KEY, SAID HOLDER COMPRISING A BLOCK-SHAPED BODY PROVIDED WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A LOCK CYLINDER THEREIN, SAID BODY ALSO BEING FORMED WITH A SLOT EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER WHEREBY THE BORES OF A CYLINDER IN THE CHAMBER MAY BE EXPOSED FOR RECEPTION OF PINS IN THE BORES, AND A ROW OF PIN RECEIVING SOCKETS PROVIDED IN SAID BODY AT ONE SIDE OF AND PARALLEL WITH SAID SLOT. 